Photos: First Look at Rehearsals for THE WIZARD OF OZ UK and Ireland Tour

Ahead of The Wizard of Oz opening at the Liverpool Empire for a three-week Christmas season on Wednesday 13 December, before a major UK and Ireland Tour first look rehearsal photography has been released. See all the new photos here.

Joining previously announced JLS star Aston Merrygold as The Tin Man (Liverpool only), Strictly Come Dancing star Craig Revel Horwood and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner and Dancing on Icefinalist The Vivienne as The Wicked Witch of the West and Gary Wilmot as The Wizard additional principal casting is confirmed as: Jason Manford who will reprise his role as The Cowardly Lion(Manchester only) with Allan Stewart (Stones in His Pockets, West End, UK Tour, Toronto; STVHello, Good Evening, Welcome) and Alex Bourne (Annie, West End, UK Tour, Toronto; Hairspray, UK Tour) as The Wizard. All perform at select dates across the tour.

Principal company members appearing at all venues are: Aviva Tulley (Book of Mormon, UK Tour) as Dorothy, Benjamin Yates (ITV’s Emmerdale; Jersey Boys, West End) as The Scarecrow, Nic Greenshields (Love Never Dies West End; Les Misérables West End, International Tour) as The Cowardly Lion, Emily Bull (9 to 5, UK Tour; Matilda UK Tour) as Glinda The Good Witch and Abigail Matthews as Toto (Bleak Expectations, West End; War Horse, West End).

Photo Credits: Marc Brenner.

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